Read Online Claire Delacroix by My Ladys Desire - Free Book Online
Authors: My Ladys Desire
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that a woman could be so perfectly wrought.
The winters had been kind to Adelys, for she did not look the thirty-five years that Gabrielle knew she had seen. Though her features were shaped with an unearthly beauty and her long blond tresses were of the shade so many envied, therewas a brittleness in her green eyes that made Gabrielle wary of this widow.
Had Adelys’ eyes always glittered like ice?
Adelys smiled coyly. “Tired this morn, Gabrielle?” She leaned across the board before Gabrielle could respond. “Well, it is no wonder. I heard you had a guest last evening and simply must congratulate you upon your fine taste in men.”
Chapter Four
G abrielle nearly choked in shock. “I had no guest last night!” she finally managed to say.
But even before the words left her lips, she saw that Adelys would not easily be persuaded of the truth.
Adelys chuckled throatily. “Come along, Gabrielle.” She waved to the hall with an assurance that made Gabrielle’s cheeks burn. “ Everyone is talking about it.”
The other noblewoman rolled her eyes appreciatively as Gabrielle’s stomach churned self-consciously. Surely she could not be the subject of gossip?
“And what a way to spend a journey to the convent! I can imagine that our Yves will easily convince you not to abandon the pleasures of the secular world.”
Gabrielle tore her bread with a savage gesture, but fought to hide her response. “Can you?” she restrained herself to saying.
Her skepticism must have shown, for Adelys leaned across the table and captured Gabrielle’s hand beneath her own cold one. The tiny woman’s gaze was more piercing than Gabrielle had ever seen it.
“Now, listen to me, Gabrielle. You are making a fool’s choice in joining the convent. You are a sensible woman, afterall. I understand that you are upset about the loss of Michel, but—”
“And of Thomas.” Gabrielle interjected. Adelys looked at her blankly. “My son, Thomas,” she clarified firmly.
Adelys frowned for a moment, then nodded impatiently. “The boy, yes, of course. I had forgotten.” She dismissed this loss with an easy wave of her hand, and Gabrielle was stunned by the woman’s callousness.
“But your circumstance as a widow is a good one for seeing to your own needs.” Adelys released Gabrielle’s hand to gesture to herself with evident pride. “Why, simply look at me! Ten years a widow and more gifts and romps than any woman needs to keep her happy. I am more wealthy than my poor dead Eduard ever dreamed of being and more spoiled than I undoubtedly deserve.”
Adelys chuckled, almost daring Gabrielle to agree. “I take lovers as I choose, I answer to no one.” Adelys’ gaze locked steadily with Gabrielle’s own. “It is not a life to readily cast aside, my dear, and I would have thought that you would have the wits to realize it.”
To think that this coldly calculating woman had imagined Gabrielle to be one of her own ilk was galling indeed. Gabrielle stood carefully, fighting all the while to keep her thoughts to herself.
“I am not certain that your life would suit me well,” she said, but Adelys’ eyes widened in mock surprise.
“Truly? You have sampled it and laid it aside after just one night?” Her smile turned coy. “Or perhaps I should say, after only one knight. ” Adelys smirked when Gabrielle gasped, then examined her fingernails with feigned concern. “I seem to recall that Yves de Sant-Roux performed rather better than that.”
Gabrielle’s cheeks flamed, but before she could argue further, the knight in question stepped into the hall. All eyes turned to him, and there was silence for the barest moment before the whispers began once more.
Gabrielle hated that she was not the only woman who took note of his arrival.
“Here comes the man himself,” Adelys cooed. “Perhaps we should ask him about last evening’s activities. He will be looking for you this morning, I wager, for he has never been a man for
The winters had been kind to Adelys, for she did not look the thirty-five years that Gabrielle knew she had seen. Though her features were shaped with an unearthly beauty and her long blond tresses were of the shade so many envied, therewas a brittleness in her green eyes that made Gabrielle wary of this widow.
Had Adelys’ eyes always glittered like ice?
Adelys smiled coyly. “Tired this morn, Gabrielle?” She leaned across the board before Gabrielle could respond. “Well, it is no wonder. I heard you had a guest last evening and simply must congratulate you upon your fine taste in men.”
Chapter Four
G abrielle nearly choked in shock. “I had no guest last night!” she finally managed to say.
But even before the words left her lips, she saw that Adelys would not easily be persuaded of the truth.
Adelys chuckled throatily. “Come along, Gabrielle.” She waved to the hall with an assurance that made Gabrielle’s cheeks burn. “ Everyone is talking about it.”
The other noblewoman rolled her eyes appreciatively as Gabrielle’s stomach churned self-consciously. Surely she could not be the subject of gossip?
“And what a way to spend a journey to the convent! I can imagine that our Yves will easily convince you not to abandon the pleasures of the secular world.”
Gabrielle tore her bread with a savage gesture, but fought to hide her response. “Can you?” she restrained herself to saying.
Her skepticism must have shown, for Adelys leaned across the table and captured Gabrielle’s hand beneath her own cold one. The tiny woman’s gaze was more piercing than Gabrielle had ever seen it.
“Now, listen to me, Gabrielle. You are making a fool’s choice in joining the convent. You are a sensible woman, afterall. I understand that you are upset about the loss of Michel, but—”
“And of Thomas.” Gabrielle interjected. Adelys looked at her blankly. “My son, Thomas,” she clarified firmly.
Adelys frowned for a moment, then nodded impatiently. “The boy, yes, of course. I had forgotten.” She dismissed this loss with an easy wave of her hand, and Gabrielle was stunned by the woman’s callousness.
“But your circumstance as a widow is a good one for seeing to your own needs.” Adelys released Gabrielle’s hand to gesture to herself with evident pride. “Why, simply look at me! Ten years a widow and more gifts and romps than any woman needs to keep her happy. I am more wealthy than my poor dead Eduard ever dreamed of being and more spoiled than I undoubtedly deserve.”
Adelys chuckled, almost daring Gabrielle to agree. “I take lovers as I choose, I answer to no one.” Adelys’ gaze locked steadily with Gabrielle’s own. “It is not a life to readily cast aside, my dear, and I would have thought that you would have the wits to realize it.”
To think that this coldly calculating woman had imagined Gabrielle to be one of her own ilk was galling indeed. Gabrielle stood carefully, fighting all the while to keep her thoughts to herself.
“I am not certain that your life would suit me well,” she said, but Adelys’ eyes widened in mock surprise.
“Truly? You have sampled it and laid it aside after just one night?” Her smile turned coy. “Or perhaps I should say, after only one knight. ” Adelys smirked when Gabrielle gasped, then examined her fingernails with feigned concern. “I seem to recall that Yves de Sant-Roux performed rather better than that.”
Gabrielle’s cheeks flamed, but before she could argue further, the knight in question stepped into the hall. All eyes turned to him, and there was silence for the barest moment before the whispers began once more.
Gabrielle hated that she was not the only woman who took note of his arrival.
“Here comes the man himself,” Adelys cooed. “Perhaps we should ask him about last evening’s activities. He will be looking for you this morning, I wager, for he has never been a man for
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